Antifriction bearing support for drawers



Oct. 2, 1928.

c. w. SIMPSON ANTIFRICTION BEARING SUPPORT 'FOR DRAWERS .Filed. May 27, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 0. w. SIMPSON ANTIFRIQTION BEARING SUPPORT FOR DRAWERS Filed May 27. 1926 s Sheets-Shfi 5 W W I Patented Oct. 2, 1928.

U I E A CHARLES simrson,

rs", *ar

on LA 'FERIA, Tn'XAsI anrrrnrcrroniananine SUPPORT FOR nitawnns.

Application filed May 2'7,

This invention relates to improvements in means-for efficiently supporting drawers and the l ke. I 7

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved anti-friction supporting means for sliding drawers, which will enable a full width drawer to be slidably disposed in an opening of a predetermined size, without constructing slide supports on the drawers.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved anti-friction hearing and supporting construction for drawers, using bearing members which are mountedin a novel manner to facilitate the expeditious sliding of the drawer with a minimum offrictional contact between the bearing and its support and the bearing and the drawer I A furtheriobject of this invention is the provision of an improved anti-friction hear ing construction for cabinet drawers and the like, including an extensible supporting tray upon which the drawer rests at itslbottom, so that a full size drawer may be utilized for an opening of a predetermined width, without obstructingthe sides of the drawer with supporting. flanges and the like, as is conventionally the case with extension tray drawers; Other objects and advantages of .this'invention will be apparent during the course the following detaileddescription. I In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wl'ierein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 'Figure 1 is a plan view of an improved type of cabinet drawer, utilizing the'fim- 7 proved anti-friction supporting construction, showing the drawer open with respect to a cabinet. V v s Figure 2' is a longitudinal sectional view taken thru the drawer arrangement illustrated in Figure 1, substantially on the line 2-2 thereof. Figure 3 is a reduced longitudinal sectional view taken through the cabinet drawer illustrated in Figure 1, showing the closed relation of the same withjrespect to the cabinet casing and runway for the drawers Figure 4 is'a; transverse sectional View;

tion.

1926. seria1-no.112,11s.

taken substa ure 3. 1

Figure 5 is a" perspective of a novel; type of extensionsupporting member forv the cabinet type of drawer illustrated in Figure 1.

Figures 6 and 7 are enlarged transverse sectional views taken through the supporting anti-friction flanges and trackway drawer and casing constructions, for the type of ntially on the line 4-4 of Figdrawer illustrated Figures 1 to 3 inclue sive. 1

Figure 8 is a rear elevation of the tray eX- tension illustrated in Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a perspective view'of a novel type of ball bearing stop member used in connection with the guideways for the ball hearings, to limit the amplitude ment of the ball bearings.

Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional View taken through a modified-type of common drawer construction, utilizing'the improved of move anti-friction means of this invention, the' drawer being substantially the same as the,

drawer illustrated in Figurel, less thefsup-r porting extension tray or device asillustrated in Figure 5. 1 V

Figure 11 is a sectional view'taken substantially on the line 1111 of- Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a cross section through ball bearing race construction of this inven-J Figured?) is a fragmentary frontelevat'ion of a type of kitchen cabinet or library table] drawer, in connection with which the n'ovel anti-friction bearin g construction, is used. Figurenl l is a transverse sectional View taken-through the type'of drawer and anti friction means therefor, as illustrated in Fig? ure 18, taken substantially on the line 14 ,14' ofvFigu re 15. i a 1 Figure 15 is a fragmentary plan View ofthe type of drawer'illustrated in Figures 13. and14l showing the same closed in the relation to the novel anti-friction supporting means therefor. l Figure 16 is an enlarged fragmentary sec-V tional view of the supporting anti-friction construction for the drawer illustrated Figure 14. v 1 v l igure 17 is a perspective viewof the entrance opening and supporting flange'and;

anti-friction means formed therewith for.

receivingthe type of drawer illustrated in Figure 13.- 1 r, a

- bodiment of this invention, the letter A may 7 anti-frictin means therefor adaptedto cooperate withthe casing and anti-friction construction illustrated in Figure 17.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration in shown only a preferred emgenerally designate a file cabinet comprising a casing construction B having an opening therein adapted to receive one or more of the drawers G which aresupported in antifriction manner by an extension anti-friction tray or device D which slidably cooperates for exten-sion in the evening of'the drawer, upon a novel anti-friction trackway construction'E; 7 V -F or the modified form of invention illustrated in Figures 10 and 11, the drawer F thereof is slidably housed within a casing G,

' M at each side thereof.

" Referring to the form of invention A, the casing B which houses thesame 13 of any approved formation. In so far as ltSTGCQPtlOIl of the drawer C is concernec, the may comprise a rear wall bottomwall 21; side V walls22 and 23; and front wall 24 provided with an opening 25 wherein the drawer C is slidably positioned for dispositionwithin the compartment 26 between the side walls 22 and 23 as is readily obvious. i

The drawer C may be of substantially conventional type, including a bottom 27; up standing side walls 28 and 29; a rear wall 30; and alfront wall construction 31 which may beprovided with the laterally extending flanges 32 adapted to engage againstthe front surface of the front wall 24 when the drawer Cis closed; Alnotable feature of the invention is. that the distance from the outer side of the wall 28 to the outer side of the side wall 29 of the drawer C is substantially equivalent to the width of theopening 25 which receives the drawer C, inasmuch as {no side supporting flanges or extensions are the drawer C intermediate and substantially provided on the side walls 28 and'29 of the drawer C,to extend forwardly of the cabinet when the drawer is open, as is the case with n'mny types of slidable supporting extension types of cabinet drawers. The bottom 27 of midway between the rear and'front walls 30 and 31 is provided. with a depending stop projection 34 adapted to cooperate in connection with the extension device D, as will be subsequently described and as is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

. Referring to the extension device or tray D, as illustrated in the perspective view of F igure 5, and elsewhere, the same compr ses the elongated parallel spaced side rails 36 and 37 connected at theirends by means of frame.

right angled transverse cross pieces 38 and 39, at the rear and front thereof respectively, to provide a substantially rectangular shaped connecting pieces 4.0 mayibe used at the corners of the frame, as illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings. Each of the side rails 36 and 37 inwardly of the top surface thereof is provided with a groove42, preferably eX- tending from end to end of said rails 36 and 37, and in cross sectionbeing preferably V- shaped. Across the front edge of the front cross piece-39jis disposed at roller-bearing stop and wear strip e5,- which may be of metal, and which obstructs the forward ends of the grooves 42, to retain the front roller bearings 46 therein. Rear roller bearings 47 are providedin each ofthe grooves42 rearwardly of the ball bearings 46; suitable triangular shaped stops 49,'as illustrated in detail in Figure 9, being positioned, as is illustrated in Figure 5, in each of the grooves 12 adjacentthe rear ends of the grooves to limit'the rear amplitude of rear ball bear-v ings 1?,and also in the grooves 42 substantially midway of the lengths of'the grooves 412 between the ball retaining strip and therear retaining blocks 49. In this manner each of the grooves a2 is divided into a front track or groove portion wherein the front ball bearing 4:618 disposed for limited operation between the retaining strip 45 and the adjacent rear retaining block 49, and into a rear track or portion wherein the ball bearing 47 may be retained for sliding movement between the retaining blocks 4-9 in each of said grooves 42, as can clearly be seen from Figure 5 of the drawings. l I r At the outer sides of each of the side rails 36 and 37, and extending for less than one half the length ofsaid rails, at the rear ends thereof, outwardly extending ."supporting flange portions 50 and 51are provided for the rails 36 and 37 respectively, the frontedges providing shoulders 52 adapted to abut against the inner surfaceof'the front wall 24 of the cabinet casing'B, when the tray or device D is extended to its maximum extent outwardly of the'opening 25. These flanges 50 and 51, inwardly of the top surfaces thereof, and from there-ar ends or edges 54i,-for substantially one-half the length thereof, are

provided with grooves 56 and57 respectively,

which are V-shaped in cross section similar to the groove 42, and wherein ball bearings 58 v In order. to bracethe connection of the rails with the cross pieces suitable angle -lo'clrs 60 which may betriangular similar to the stop blocks 49 illustratedin Figure 9. I Referring to the stationarytrack and antifriction means E for the extension device D and the drawer construction C, as is illusa laterallvspaced relation from the side walls 22 and 23. Thesetracks 62 and 63, as illustrated in the drawings,- are provided with grooves-'64 extending longitudinally thereof,

whiQh-are- V-Shaed in cross section,'as the grooves above mentioned, and 'which are adapted tosupport roller-bearings for travel therealong. Each groove 64 is provided with a front, ball bearing 66 limitedfor'wardly by abutment againsttheiront wall 24' of the cabinet casing, and intermediate the ends of thegro0ve-64 beinglimited by means of a substantially triangular shapedstop block 67 similar in construction to 'the'stop block 49 illustrated in Figure 9. These grooves 64 furthermore each include a rear ball bearing 68, limited in its front forward movement by means of-the 'stopblock 67, and in its rear movement by means of the stop block 69 placed in'the groove 64'atthe rear end of the rail 62 or 63.-

' lVhen the slide extension device or tray D is applied inthe' casing-- compartment 26, the rails 36 and 37 thereof are disposed immediately overth'e tracks 62 and 63 respectively, and the lower smooth surfaces oifthe rails 36 and'37 respectively ride upon the ball bearings 66 and 68- ofthe grooves: 64 of the rails beneath. h I

Retaining flanges and stationary tracks 69 andj'ZO are securely affixed to the opposite sidewalls 22 'and 23 of the casing B upward 1y of the tracks 62 and 63, .the same in width being relatively narrow, and providing downwardly facing surfaces benea th which the laterally extendingretaining flanges; 5Q and 5101 the sliding tray D are disposed, so

that the ball/bearings 58 and 59', which ride in the grooves 56. and: 57; of the extensions and 51, may. engage in rollingcontact against the lower surfaces. of said. retaining fflangies 69 and.- 70, as is illustrated in the draw ngs. Referrin to the assemblage of the 1nvention A, the stationary tracks'62rand 63, are

of Course secured on the bottom. wall 21 of the casing asabove mentioned,in the'proper relation above mentionerhyand the tray D is then placed in position. in. anti-friction supported, relation upon the ball. bearings 66 r and 68 which operate in the grooves 64. The

retaining flanges and trackways 69 and-'70 are preferably then applied, in such manner as to permit otthehorizontal:slid'ing'of the tray or extension device D, thus preventing the same from tipping in'a verticalplane; the.

spacing of the retaining 'flanges'69fand 7O beingsomade with; respect to the trackways 62'. and 63 as to prevent such tipping of the tray or extension deviceD as'is readily apparent, so that the extension D may bewith facility-slid.forwardly and rearward lyin the guide. channels between the'jtra'cks 62*ai id 63.v and the retaining flanges 69 and 70.-' The forward limit ofmovementof the extension device D is controlled by abutment Ora shoulder 52 against the front wall 24 of the drawer casing B. The rearlimit ofmovement of the extensiondevice D may be deterdrawer compartment to the casing B. It is to be noted that the stationary tracks 69iand 70v are not 7 wide enough to overhang the grooves 42 within which theball bearings 46 and 47 operate, and this is to permit the 1 drawer G to slide upon suchball bearings 46 :and47 upon insertion into the cabinet compartmentj26. As is illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawingsthe block 34is-normally oper 'able in the opening-defined by the extension trayor frame .D, and engages against the.

front cross piece 39-to limit the outward amplitude of movement of the drawer C, so that;

the rear end of the drawer, when open, po-f sitioned in the opening25, of the front wall 24, and is prevented from entire removal forwardly oi the wall 24 until the 1 drawergis tipped upwardly to remove theblock 34 from the extension tray D, as illustrated by-the v dotted lines Figure 2 of the drawings. The block 34 also. rests between the-angles when the drawer is open to prevent. lateral drawer movement. 7 i

It is readily p rent. that due a, in en.

tire anti-friction- Supp rt of thedrawer C being; placed. below the bottom: wall thereof, the saine isiunobstructed: by lateral pieces'eon nected to the side walls of the drawer G, and

therefore the drawer-in width can be equiva lent to the widthof the opening 25, and; this is: important in connection with the fire resisting qualities of the cabinet, which may be'either of wood or metal, The improved anti-frictionv supporting construction above described. for the drawer C is plractically noiseless in operation, due to thewell bal anced arrangement thereof, a-nd -the-novel 3/1".-

rangement and. support of the. ball bearings;

connection with. all of the forms, and i'n con-- nection with every groove of the anti-friction means which-receives a ball bearing, the side walls 75 and *7 6 ofeach'groove aredisposed L at an upward divergenceot 60 more or le's s, I 'butin any event less than909, inorder to'permit a proper support of the balls therein, as illustrated for the ball '68 in Figure 12 of the As.a generic feature ot this invention, in 1 drawings. Itis the object of supporting the balll b'earings in such a 60 side edge groove to. permit of relative-11yshort anti-friction travel? of the ball bearin'g'in the groove, in,

contra-distinction to the distance of travel;

of the drawer duringits antifriction travel upon the ball loearing', Fora groove-the ball bearing will travel:- a much greater, dis

tance in proportion: to the distance 'oat travel do I of thedrawer, than does; the ball when *supported ina 60 sided. groove for thesaine distance offtravel of thediiaiver, due-to the fact {that in the 60sidedgroove the ball bearing is supported-closer to the horizontal axis thereof. Inpractice withthesubstad tially; 60 sided groove, the drawer travels aboutthree times as fast as the ball travels,

ovena rectilinear path, and it has been found that due to, the provision ofsuch a groove theantifrict on neans keeps the drawer balanced on" the ball forseasier operation than wouldotherwise he the case.

flnjorder toprevent thev'accidental detach,- inent f'the ball hearings-from their respecs tive grooves, it is. preferred to provide overhanging retaining flanges 78 and '1" 9, foreach v groove ofthe anti-friction means of all forms of the invention herein shown and described these overhang ng flanges preferably heing triangular in cross section, andeitherintegral,orseparate strips attached as illustrated in Figure 12 to overhang? the upper enlarged end ofthe groove,'to provide a'longitudinal gopening 8 which faces upwardly ifroin the groove, less in Width than the dianieteref the ballbearing' 68", and; upwardly through which; and abovethe top surfaceofithe strip v in vhrch'the groove is formed, the ball hearing projects for receiving the lower surface Q1altiipper,sligding part thereon. f Referring to the 1 O11110fiIlVGIltlOiLlllllS- tratedj-infFig'ures 10 and 11 of thedrawings,

the drawer thereof is substantiallythe saine asa conventional 7 file drawer,- and the casing G to whflchthe 53111618SUPPOI'tGCl-JHClHdBS a upstanding side WaIlsSS'and 87 defining a con ipartinent 88 adapted to, receive thedrawer F,- thru an Opening 89in the front: Wall 90 of the said cabinet Gn; 5 f v 5 ,The bottoni Wall 85of the cabinet construction is provided with the longitudinally extendingtracks 9-1 and '92, along the adjacent \val-lsi86 and 87, which inwardlyofftheir-upper surfacesareprovided \vitlrgrooves9-3 exactly the same in construction as the groove illus;-

trated in FigurelQ, and abovedescribed, and:

each groove 93. supports thereinthe frontball bearing 94 and ,the rear ball bearing 95,1i1nit dgin, their longitudinal movement along the groove-by 'ineans'of stops identically the same as the'stop" constructions above defined I forthe tracks 62 an-d:63 of the invention A,

Thatis, the frontball bearing'Slt oft-he track I 91 orv92 inoves'betweenrthe front-WallfiO of the casing G and a-rearstopblock 95 which may be triangular, as illustrated foi' the stop block in Figure 9 of the drawings. The; path of travel of the rear ballbearing 95 is limited by the stopblocl; 95? at its forward length 'of travel'and-at itsrear, length. of travel is liinited. by asimilar st'opj block 96 located in the groove 93;: Ifdesired a stop block 97 may-,beprovided on the-drawerbelovv the bottom Wall thereof to abut/against the front Wall.90 ofthe casing G to limit the outward movement of the drawer FL Y Referringto the :formof invention utiliz ingflthe dra ver K, the casing-L thereof may be of anyapproved nature,and for 'thepurposes of-the invention the same has sidewalls 100 and 101, between,- Whicha compartment 102' is provided .wherein thedrawer K ,is slidably inountedr The drawer K includes the sidewalls103and 104, connected by abettoin Wa'lll05, and front andrear wa'lls 106 and 107%respectively, and it is adapted to slide into; the compartment 102 1 between the The means M for supporting the'rdrawers in anti-friction relation from the side Walls side alls 100and 101.,-

100 and 101'coinpriscs spaced upper and:1ow er elongated tracks 1.07 and 108 at the inner side of each side-Wall '100 and 101, secured I theretoin any approved manner, to provide a space 109 therebetween, withinwhichinaybe slidablyreeeivedthe track flange 110Which attar hed to the sidewall of the drawer., It

is of courseunderstood thateach side wvall 103 and 1041 of'the 'draWer iscprovidedfivith such track stripl-lO, Which operates in the channel between the upper and lower tracks from60,but not'above 90.b1nwardly of 1 the groove 1110f each trackilO'S, a forward ball bearing. 1121s disposedflvhich isliinited to a path oftravel slightly less than one-half the length of'the'track 108', being forwardly restrained: by .ineans ofyastop block 112 "in the front end of the groove 111, and'atits rear patlr-offtravel being limited by astopblock f1-13Q Alsol in each groove -111.arear ba1l' bearing- 114 is: provided which iszlimi'ted; to a length of travel alongthe groovelll, to about the saine dist'anc'efas the travel of the ball 'bearing112i The ball l')ear.ing-'114=:isv1iinited -in its; front end-travel by meansof the stop blockliS, and'a siniila'r stop'block-115 is I providedin'tlie rear end of the, groove 111; to V liinit therear movement of the} ball bearing l \Vhen the bottoin' surfaces of thegside flanges or ing portions of the ball bearings 112 and 114', vfor supporting the drawer. in'an anti-friction manner from the tracks 108. *It is of course.

understood that the' -gro oves are provided with the retaining flanges 7 8 and-.79 Za's illustratedfin' Figure 12, to retain theball bearings infplaee.1 1 7:11;, 1 l 5.; '1 1 At. the rear end of ,eachvof the flanges or thet draiver K'lis slipped into tracks thereonengages-the top project-v tracksllO, inwardly of the top surface there-- of, a -groove'117 is provided, which extends from the rear end 118 of thesaid flange 110, for substantially one-half the length of the flange 110; the groove 11'? in cross section being identical with the cross section of the groove illustrated in- Figure 12, and being adapted to support front and rear ball bearings 119 and 120 therein, which are respectively limitedin their path of travel by front intermediate and rear abutments 121, 122, and 123, to limit the movement of the ball bearings 119 and 120 to substantially the same distance oftravel at the front and rear ends of the'groove 117 of each flange 110.

It is readily apparent that when the tracks 110 are slipped intothe channels between the upper and lower tracks 107 and 108 of the casing L, the upper projecting portions .of the ball bearings 119 and120 will engage the under surfaces of the tracks 107, to support the drawer K in a sliding relation on its casing L, to counter-act the tipping effect when the same is extended, and permits the easy sliding thereof, without binding.

From the foregoing description of this invention it is apparent that a novel type of anti fricti'on ball bearing support for drawers has been provided, which is susceptible of universal adaptation to various types of drawers, and which may be used in connection with wooden, composition, or metal cabinet or table construction. I

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may bemade to the forms of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of these inventions or the scope of the claims.

I claim: g

1 In a drawer construction of the class dc scribed the combination of a casing having a compartment therein and including a bottom wall and spaced side walls and a front wall with an opening therein to said compartment, tracks stationary on the bottom wall of the casing, retaining flanges connected at the tray for slidably sup porting the tray for easy inner sides of the side walls in spaced relation above the tracks, a sliding tray operating on the stationary tracks of the bottom wall for extension into the compartment or extension therefrom through the opening of the front wall of the casing, said slidingtray having lateralextensionsat opposite sides thereof below the side wall flanges to prevent the tipping of the tray from a horizontal position, said extensions at the sides of the sliding tray being disposed at the rear end of the sliding tray to limit the forward extended movement of the tray from the casing by abutment against the front wall, and a drawer slidable on the tray.

2. In a drawer construction of the class described, the combination of a casing having a compartment therein and includinga bottom wall and spaced side walls and a front horizontal position, said extensions at the I sides of the sliding tray being disposed at the rear end 'of-the sliding tray to limit theforward extended movement of the trayffron the front wall opening by abutment against the front wall, a drawer slidable on the tray,

and means for limiting the forward sliding movement of the drawer with respect ,tothe tray. v

8. Ina drawer construction of the class described the c'ombination of a casing having a compartment therein and including a bottom wall and spaced side walls and'a front wallwith an opening therein to said compartment, tracks stationary on the bottom wall of the casing, retaining anges connected at the inner sidesof the side wal-lsjin spaced relation above the tracks, a sliding'tray Operatingon the stationary tracks of the bottom vwall for extension into the compartment or extension therefrom throughthe opening of the front wall of the casing, said sliding tray having lateralextcnsions at opposite sides thereof projecting into the space below the side wall flanges to preventthe tipping of the trayfroin a horizontal position, said eX- tensions at the sides of the sliding tray being disposed at the rear end of the sliding tray to limit the forward extended movement of the tray from the front wallopening by abutment against the front wall, a drawer slidable on the extension tray, andball bearings between the stationary tracks and the bot-tom wall of the drawer and the extension movement. V I I I 4i:- lii a drawer construction-of the class described the combination of a casing having in compartment therein and including a bottom wall and spaced side walls and'a frontwall with an opening" therein to said compartment, tracks stationary on tne bottom wall of the casing, retaining flanges connected at the inner sides of the side walls in spaceri relation above the tracks, a sliding tray operating on the stationary tracks of the bottom wall for extension into the compartinent or extension therefrom thru the opening of the front wall of thecasing, said sliding tray llaVlDD lateralextensions at opposite sides thereor projecting into the space between the bottom wall tracks of the casing and the side wall flanges to prevent the tipwall with an opening therein to said 00111- bottom Wall of the casing and the extension tray for slidably supporting the tray for easy movement, and antifriction means supported at'the lateralextensionof said'tray for engaging the undersurface of the flanges supported by the sidewalls of the casing.

5. In a drawer construction of the class described the combination of a casinghaving -a compartment thereinand lncluding a bottom Wall and spaced side Walls and a front partmont, tracks stationary: on the bottom Wall of the casing, retaining flanges connected at the inner sides of the side Walls in spacedrelation above the tracks, a sliding tray operating on the stationary tracks of the bottom Wall for extension into the compartment or extension therefrom thru the opening of the front Wall of the casing,;said ex tension tray having lateral extensions at opposite sides thereof projecting into the space between the bottom wall tracks ofthe casing and the side Wall flanges to prevent the tippin of the tray from ahorizontal position, said extensions at the sides of the sliding tray being disposedatthe rear endrof the sliding tray to limit. the forward extended moven'ient. of the tray from the casing byface of and at opposite sides of the extension abutment against the. front Wall, a drawer slidable on the extension tray, ball-bearings between the track surfaces and the'bottom wall of the casing and the extension tray for slidably supporting the tray for easy movenient, anti-friction means supported at the lateral extensions of said tray for engaging the under surfaceiof the flanges supported by the side Walls of the cas1ng,'and antlfriction means supported on the upper sure tray upon which tile drawer slides.

'6. As an article of manufacture an ex tension drawer supporting tray comprising side rails, cross rails connecting the side rails in substantially parallel relation, said side rails inwardly of the top surfaces thereof havlongtu linal grooves, ball hearings in said grooves, said side rails at therear ends there-.

of having lateral projecting flanges With for- Wardly facing shoulders 'in erinediate the ends of said ralls. I

. As an article of manufacture an ext-en-- sion drawer supporting tray comprisingside rails, cross rails connecting the. side rails in substantially parallelrelatioin saidside rails inwardly of the top surfaces thereof having longitudinal grooves, ball hearings in said grooves, said side rails at the rear ends-thereof having lateral projecting flanges With for- Wardly facing shoulders intermediate the ends ofsaid rails, said flanges having grooves in the upper surfaces thereof,and ball bear;

ings in said grooves movable therealongQ CHARLES W. SIMPSON; 

